Road trip

 After a good night's sleep on a brand new mattress on a brand new bed we made a plan.  The guys would go to the mosque I would sort my shit and then we would head out together. 

Sooner than expected the guys came back from the mosque and we headed towards Nizwa.  It was an exceptionally warm day with temps in the high 30s.  Thank goodness for air-conditioned cars!!!

The route took us away from the coast passing by lots of beautiful mountains, it really is a lovely country.  Didn't take us long before we arrived on the outskirts.  Morton really needed some food so we headed to the mall... Our first thought is we will need air-conditioned places as here the heat has reached 45!!! 

The mall was mehhhh very not mall like , and how we used the facilities and with the aid of modern technology found a restaurant close by.  Even walking from car to restaurant was insane.

The guys choose some meat dishes and I opted for a fish kebab which they didn't have so I ended up with a selection of dips and some flat bread.  Meh it was ok but again short lived... After the guys bellies were full we made a plan to head to the old town, have a look at the fort, we wanted to go to the souq but didn't open until 16h so had a few hours to kill. 

We drive into the city and parked up.  All though it was hotter the air was dryer so it was a bit more manageable..a bit.  There was an entrance fee to the fort so myself and Morton opted out and Liv went in.  We could be given a history lesson from Liv 😄

Basically the old town is situated within the walls of the fort, so we had a wander, there literally was no one else around, it was like a ghost town.. just the crazy German and English walking around in the mid day sun.  They are doing alot of reconstruction work, restoring some of the old houses, building new ones in the same kind of style..quite interesting to see the two side by side.

We stumbled across a cafe and thought was definitely time for a break.  Waters in hand we spotted a chess board.. it wasn't complete so we improvised by using uzbec and euro coins for the missing pieces.  I do like a game of chess but we later found out that I'm shite 🤣🤣 and it was probably the quickest checkmate ever...ah well kept us entertained until Liv finished her tour and joined us.  

We played a few games of noughts and crosses and headed to the souq.  The souq is basically a big market place, selling livestock, handmade crafts, fruit and veg and coffee! Lots of coffee and a traditional dessert.  We were definitely early as there wasn't the hustle and bustle that I expected and there was no goat market! 

I managed to pick up a book, Liv some soap and Morton some coffee so all good.  Last little look at things then headed for the car for Morton to drop us off.  He was staying the night so we had agreed to get the 17.50 bus.  We weren't able to buy tickets so it really was a cross your fingers and hope for the best.. That a the bus turned up, b there were seats and c well the is no c 🤣🤣

We got to the stop said our goodbyes and waited.  There were other people waiting always a good sign , also without tickets another good sign.  We waited the time went by we looked at plan b,c ... And then it came wizzing round the corner.  A family got on.. They had tickets, 3 of us didn't.  We explained profusely that on números occasions, with different devices and cards that we tried to buy tickets! We were told to wait.  We waited..and waited some more finally he came back saying he had seats.  We gave money and name which he wrote in Arabic on the ticket.  Curiously we wondered if the driver had understood our names.  So a quick picture with Google translate and the answer was no.. Liv was vomiting mania which I guess was quite close to Olivia and mine either he rides... Which began with the right letter🤣🤣🤣

2 hr journey back to the hostel went really quickly.  Quick stop off at the supermarket and back to the joys of Aircon and finally WiFi in the new hostel! 

After some bread and cheese, caught up with Kaab and mum .  Found out the Iranian girl I helped got her visa rejected for the US mainly because she was Iranian.

A quick shower , social media check and off to bed.  Alarm set for 0535.  


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